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Handful of games (and google earth) crashing my computer?

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  • Internet Applications
  • Software
  • Google
  • Games
  • Google Earth
Last response: in Social Networking
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January 10, 2014 2:06:45 PM

I've had my computer (home-built) for nearly two months now. Since the beginning, every game I've thrown at it has run flawlessly at maximum settings and lightweight, general use is never a problem. However, for some strange reason, some of my games, and google earth, cause my computer to crash after 5-10mins of use. This crash isn't to desktop either, it's a completely system lock-up. I end up having to cold reboot. I've monitored my gpu temps and they're averaging at 42-53C, I haven't monitored my cpu yet though. I also ran memtest and found 0 errors with my ram. Any ideas what could be causing this? The games that lock up are Rage, Torchlight 2, Fligh Simulator X and Rust.

Specs:
MOBO: ASRock 990FX Extreme3
CPU: AMD FX 6350 (3.9ghz)
GPU: Asus Radeon R9270x DIRECT CU II TOP
PSU: Corsair cx600M 600W
RAM: 8gb GSkill RIpjaws (2x 4gb sticks)

More about : handful games google earth crashing computer

January 10, 2014 3:04:17 PM

I would check the temp of your CPU, and try running a CPU stress test, see what that does.
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January 10, 2014 4:48:00 PM

Doing the basics, run Windows update and all options except BING. Run SLiMDrivers make sure your using the latest. Check those games for updates, patches or similiar issues and see if they have a common fix (like for example rerun DirectX). Download and run Autoruns, remove anything from Startup you don't need to make Windows work (for example Adobe Reader Update, or Quicktime). Download and run Memtest86, then run HDTune, make sure both don't show anything else wrong would be my steps to looking at discovering the underlying problem.
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January 10, 2014 5:21:13 PM

+memetest86 run it with one stick in at a time.
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January 10, 2014 10:03:52 PM

HiTechObsessed said:
I would check the temp of your CPU, and try running a CPU stress test, see what that does.


Ok so I ran multiple stress tests (Prime95 to be exact) and here's what I got:

CPU: 64C (Highest was 64C)
GPU: 68C (Highest was 71C)

Now, my system didn't freeze or lock up or anything until I decided I wanted to make it do so. The first time was within 10 minutes of watching a show on netflix, and the second time and third times were while playing rust (happened within 10mins the first time, around 1min the second time).

My idle temps are:

CPU: 13C
GPU: 35C

I also ran memtest multiple times and made sure 7.6gb of ram were used. This ran for over two hours anf found 0 errors. Any ideas?
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January 10, 2014 10:06:35 PM

did you change worker window priority to 10?
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January 10, 2014 10:22:39 PM

Beezy said:
did you change worker window priority to 10?


I'm sorry, I'm a bit of a nooby. What exactly is that?
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January 11, 2014 4:13:40 PM

in prime95 you look at the top bar where it says file, edit, tools ,stuff like that. in the first one I think its file, it says "worker windows" click that and you see a box with priority number in it, change it to something high, like 8,9. then apply. re run the test and don't touch the computer while it runs. open HWmonitor before you start the test, so you can watch the temps while the test runs.
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January 11, 2014 9:09:21 PM

Beezy said:
in prime95 you look at the top bar where it says file, edit, tools ,stuff like that. in the first one I think its file, it says "worker windows" click that and you see a box with priority number in it, change it to something high, like 8,9. then apply. re run the test and don't touch the computer while it runs. open HWmonitor before you start the test, so you can watch the temps while the test runs.


Hey again, thanks so much for helping. Alright, so I set my worker window priority to 9 and I've been running the torture test for approximately 3 hours now and nothing has crashed. I'm also running the test that specifically stresses my cpu (I forgot the name, FPU option?). Anyways, here are my current temps (I'm writing this from my laptop, in case you're wondering, haha):

TEMPS:

CPU IDLE: 14C
CPU (Being tortured): 60C (highest temp reached was 63C)

So, what now? It's looking to me as if everything's fine with my hardware.

UPDATE**
Ok so it's been around an hour since I made my last post and just thought I'd mention that my screen is flashing black. Haha, My temps are stable, same as they were before. Is it just the stress?
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January 12, 2014 12:57:27 AM

Did you run HDTune as I suggest to validate the HDD is running fine? If the software stored on the HDD is corrupting because the HDD is failing then this would cause all sorts of random issues.
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January 12, 2014 9:10:18 AM

I would say anything over 61c is too high...the fact that u hit a Max of 63 might mean the ram os getting too hot or the gpu is getting too hot. Try to back down so your temps Max around 60c at the most. See if that helps any. While the settings may be stable it still has to stay within its temp range
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January 12, 2014 9:13:15 AM

Also run a small fft torture test. So we only test the CPU. the other tests are designes to put more stress on other parts as well as cpu. See if the lines are avproblem w our CPU oc or something else.
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January 12, 2014 9:13:36 AM

I mean flashing
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January 12, 2014 3:25:34 PM

Beezy said:
Also run a small fft torture test. So we only test the CPU. the other tests are designes to put more stress on other parts as well as cpu. See if the lines are avproblem w our CPU oc or something else.


I believe that's the test I ran. I left it running overnight, 12hrs total, and 0 errors were found on all 6 of my cpu's cores. Also, the 63C i hit was only for a second, the temps remained at 60C overnight. All my other components, as expected, were running fairly cool. Either way, I'm considering getting some water cooling/ extra fans to help with cooling.
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January 12, 2014 3:26:41 PM

Tom Tancredi said:
Did you run HDTune as I suggest to validate the HDD is running fine? If the software stored on the HDD is corrupting because the HDD is failing then this would cause all sorts of random issues.


I haven't tried it yet, but I sure as hell will once I get a chance tonight. I was really caught up with running the other tests, but I'll broaden my horizon :) . Thanks for the suggestion btw, I'll post my results when I'm done.
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January 12, 2014 3:34:21 PM

at this point im thinking it might be the power supply. obviously CPU and RAM are fine...im not sure you mentioned, does a crash mean blue screen of death? a straight up freeze and need to hold down the power button or unplug? or just shuts off instantly.
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January 12, 2014 4:24:05 PM

Beezy said:
at this point im thinking it might be the power supply. obviously CPU and RAM are fine...im not sure you mentioned, does a crash mean blue screen of death? a straight up freeze and need to hold down the power button or unplug? or just shuts off instantly.


Ok so here's how the freeze goes. I'll be playing a game (or looking around on google earth, nothing special) and at any random given point (usually within 5-10mins of gameplay/usage) the screen will freeze, my mouse won't move, my keyboard won't work, I can't bring up task manager (obviously), and that's it. The whole system locks up and I have to hold down the power button. Another odd thing is that sometimes, not every time, when I try to reboot, my monitor and keyboard (LEDs) won't boot up. I'll usually have to give it around 10mins before I can use them again. Also keep in mind this happens only on torchlight 2, flight simulator x, rust, and google earth. I can run games like battlefield 4, skyrim, DayZ, and bioshock infinite at max settings with no problem.
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January 12, 2014 6:05:53 PM

sounds like power supply is going, or the hard drive is failing. run those HDD tests since that's easier than testing the power supply. if the HDD health is fine (google how to run check disk on windows ___) then its probably the PSU. I say that since you said sometimes the keyboard and mouse (through the usb I take it) don't get the power they should on boot. if you can test another PSU please do so. But test the HDD first in the way mentioned above, and also use windows built in "check disk" function
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January 12, 2014 6:38:26 PM

Beezy said:
sounds like power supply is going, or the hard drive is failing. run those HDD tests since that's easier than testing the power supply. if the HDD health is fine (google how to run check disk on windows ___) then its probably the PSU. I say that since you said sometimes the keyboard and mouse (through the usb I take it) don't get the power they should on boot. if you can test another PSU please do so. But test the HDD first in the way mentioned above, and also use windows built in "check disk" function


I'm currently running the HDD tests, but just wondering- why would my PSU be responsible for my games crashing? They're lower-end graphically and it never happens with the real power-hungry games (with the exception of flight sim)
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January 12, 2014 7:22:45 PM

Tom Tancredi said:
Did you run HDTune as I suggest to validate the HDD is running fine? If the software stored on the HDD is corrupting because the HDD is failing then this would cause all sorts of random issues.


Ok, so I ran HDtune and did a Benchmark and Error Scan and everything seems just fine, no errors were found whatsoever, and my benchmark graph looks decent.

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January 12, 2014 7:23:53 PM

did you try windows built in check disk feature? no just a benchmark, it will actually scan for bad sectors on the HDD, then fix them
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Best solution

January 13, 2014 11:07:11 AM

Okay well we poked to see some problems occur and try to generate the problem through different methodologies. Based on these responses the current choices as follows:

1) Uninstall your video drivers, then download and run Driver Sweeper to really remove them (this is a critical difference!). Reboot and be in VGA mode most likely. Download the newest drivers (Beta at the bottom of the page I believe when you look at the list) and reinstall. Then test again.

2) if it still doesn't work, click the orb and run Windows Easy Transfer to a external drive. Download DBAN and wipe the drive clean. Do a clean install of Windows from DVD, then run all updates and options (except bing). Download and run SlimDrivers to install all updated drivers. Go to www.filehippo.com and download either AVAST! or AVG (Never use MSE it doesn't work as reliable as many other AV programs) DO NOT INSTALL anything else. Now watch Netflix, then try Google Earth, finally then install only one game at a time and TEST each one, then retest Netflix (different video) and Google Earth after each game install ( torchlight 2, flight simulator x, rust.) When all the games are installed having issue, Netflix and Google Earth are all working fine on a clean build, then try again with each other 'working game' by installing and testing Netflix / Google. Let see if there is something someone is installing that is messing things up for the others.
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January 13, 2014 11:12:30 AM

Beezy said:
did you try windows built in check disk feature? no just a benchmark, it will actually scan for bad sectors on the HDD, then fix them


I tried the check disc feature last night and I just attempted playing torchlight 2 again and, although it took a bit longer to happen this time, it still crashed :/ .
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January 13, 2014 11:14:28 AM

Tom Tancredi said:
Okay well we poked to see some problems occur and try to generate the problem through different methodologies. Based on these responses the current choices as follows:

1) Uninstall your video drivers, then download and run Driver Sweeper to really remove them (this is a critical difference!). Reboot and be in VGA mode most likely. Download the newest drivers (Beta at the bottom of the page I believe when you look at the list) and reinstall. Then test again.

2) if it still doesn't work, click the orb and run Windows Easy Transfer to a external drive. Download DBAN and wipe the drive clean. Do a clean install of Windows from DVD, then run all updates and options (except bing). Download and run SlimDrivers to install all updated drivers. Go to www.filehippo.com and download either AVAST! or AVG (Never use MSE it doesn't work as reliable as many other AV programs) DO NOT INSTALL anything else. Now watch Netflix, then try Google Earth, finally then install only one game at a time and TEST each one, then retest Netflix (different video) and Google Earth after each game install ( torchlight 2, flight simulator x, rust.) When all the games are installed having issue, Netflix and Google Earth are all working fine on a clean build, then try again with each other 'working game' by installing and testing Netflix / Google. Let see if there is something someone is installing that is messing things up for the others.


Phew...alright, I'll get started on this list lol. I really appreciate the time you're taking. Just to be sure though, where would I go to properly uninstall my video drivers? Stupid question, I know. But I've tried doing it before via catalyst and I feel like I did it wrong. I should mention that when I did reinstall my video drivers, they weren't the beta version though either.
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January 13, 2014 12:00:05 PM

Click Orb, Control Panel, Programs, Uninstall a program. Always remember, since Vista they have included a extensive 'search' feature and help function. So pressing F1 (Help) will always bring up help and you can always type in what you want, it will search (like google) to the best / most common answers.
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January 13, 2014 1:16:00 PM

Tom Tancredi said:
Click Orb, Control Panel, Programs, Uninstall a program. Always remember, since Vista they have included a extensive 'search' feature and help function. So pressing F1 (Help) will always bring up help and you can always type in what you want, it will search (like google) to the best / most common answers.


Right, that's what I usually do for programs, but I'm just a little apprehensive because the only program that has to do with amd is catalyst. I have programs by ASUS for my gpu, but I'm not sure if those should go as well? They're ASUS GPU Tweak and ASUS Product Register Program.
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January 13, 2014 3:37:05 PM

Tom Tancredi said:
Click Orb, Control Panel, Programs, Uninstall a program. Always remember, since Vista they have included a extensive 'search' feature and help function. So pressing F1 (Help) will always bring up help and you can always type in what you want, it will search (like google) to the best / most common answers.


Well...I uninstalled my video drivers, restarted my computer in safe mode and ran DDU, wiped all the old drivers and rebooted again, downloaded the newest drivers and played torchlight. Surprisingly, the game played for much longer than it did before...but then, once again, it crashed. Crushing my soul along with it. I guess it's time to start the longer method.
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January 14, 2014 8:15:45 PM

Tom Tancredi said:
Click Orb, Control Panel, Programs, Uninstall a program. Always remember, since Vista they have included a extensive 'search' feature and help function. So pressing F1 (Help) will always bring up help and you can always type in what you want, it will search (like google) to the best / most common answers.


I figured it out guys. It was Norton. It was causing interference with Steam games. I uninstalled it and downloaded AVG instead and everything is working properly now. Both you guys though, really truly appreciate the help and suggestions you gave me. I'm just upset the solution was so much simpler than what I made it to be.
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